Grooming Picks: December 2012

The Grooming Products We Love This Month

While wax and putties are great for adding texture, gels are better for hold and shine.

If the deluge of products that arrives on our desk every month is anything to go by, it’s safe to say that men’s grooming is big business. From small startups to international brands, everyone is jumping on the grooming bandwagon in hopes of making a quick buck. And, in an effort to sort the practical from the pointless, we’ve slathered ourselves in unguents, doused ourselves in potions and shamelessly fumigated several rooms with fragrance. Here’s the best of December 2012.

Series 5 570cc Foil Shaver by BraunPrice: from all good retailers; see braun.com for more details

Foil shaver fans could do a lot worse than opt for Braun’s new-and-improved Series 5 model. The 570cc has all the bells and whistles found on rotary shavers and then some. Expect a flexible head that reduces pressure, an engine with 20% more ‘oomph’ than previous models and a cross blade (sideways) cutting motion that slices the most stubborn / flat / short of hairs. It also comes with Braun’s low-maintenance Clean&Charge station that, er, ‘cleans and charges’, surprisingly enough.

While many men still mistake organic skin care for being lightweight and ineffective, it’s hard to ignore the results from Melvita’s new honey-based collection on skin that’s been torn to shreds by winter’s icy winds. The collection's three organic honeys help rebuild the skin’s natural defense barrier, replenish lost nutrients and stimulate circulation.

Oxygen facials by Intraceuticals are a pre-red-carpet essential among Hollywood’s A-list for many reasons. At the top of the list is the treatment’s instant Photoshop effect, which softens the brutal vision of a high-def camera. For those who can’t afford such luxuries — or who don’t have many red carpet events to attend — the brand has launched light versions of the professional-grade potions used in its treatments. Pick the booster most relevant to your skin concern (vit C is strengthening, vit A is clarifying, antioxidant is revitalizing and collagen is rejuvenating), mix it with the proprietary Rejuvenate base and create your own bespoke skin cocktail. Better yet, find the nearest MediSpa that offers the full treatment before that all-important job interview/photoshoot/first date/hostile takeover.

Multi-Tasking Grooming Cream by TIGI Bed Head For MenPrice: $11.55 (on sale from $16.96)Buy it here.

Hairstyling is usually a matter of trial and error for most guys. While wax and putties are great for adding texture, gels are better for hold and shine. It follows, then, that you may have to mix and match products to get the same kind of results achieved by a professional stylist. This lightweight cream is a jack-of-all-trades for dry and unruly hair. Formulated with a special blend of polymers, it’s as good at smoothing out frizz as it is at adding texture and shine.

Retinol may be clinically recognized as the gold standard in antiaging, capable of undoing fine lines, wrinkles and evening out skin tone, but the key ingredient comes with its fair share of side effects (you’ve got to take the highs with the lows). Fortunately, adverse reactions from the hefty dose of retinol in this overnight product are swiftly canceled out by StriVectin’s unique form of niacin (vitamin B3), a key regenerative and strengthening ingredient. Expect the benefits of retinol but without the negative reactions.